Spring shackle



Patented Mar. 28, 1933 7 i a UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE Applicationfiled May 13, 1931. Serial No. 537,134.

This invention relates to improvements in ing when in place. A nut 15 isthreaded upon spring shackles, and the primary object of the bolt at theopposite end from the head of the invention is to provide asimple anddurathe bolt, and placed on the polygonal inner ble spring shacklewhich, when applied, will end portion 14 of the bolt 13 between the headprevent binding, rattling and squeaking. of the bolt and the outer sideof the adjacent 5:;

More specifically, the invention contemshackle plate 11 are curvedoutwardly bowed plates a spring shackle which may be read- Spring plates16. In assembling the strucily and effectively lubricated, and whereinture, the nut is tightened sufliciently to there will be a minimumamount of friction. place the spring plates 16 under proper ten- 10 Theinvention consists in the novel form, sion so'that the shackle platesare yieldingcombination and arrangement of parts here- 1y engaged,indirectly, with the shoulders inafter more fully described, shown inthe formed by reducing the ends of the'spindles accompanying drawing andclaimed. or shafts 9. As the engaged surfaces wear,

In the drawing: the plates 11 will be automatically adjusted 15 Figure 1is a fragmentary side elevational toward each other by the spring plates16 so view, showing the adjacent ends of a vehicle as to compensate forthe wear and prevent spring and frame member connected by aobjectionable rattling. As shown in Figure shackle embodying the presentinvention. 3, the spring plates 16 have central'polygonal Figure 2 is anenlarged view looking toopenings 17 to fit the polygonal portion 14 of20 ward the left of Figure 1, with the upper porthe stem of ,bolt 13 sothat said spring plates tion ofthe shackle and the vehicle frame will bemaintained in proper position extendmember broken away and in section;and ing longitudinally of the shackle plates .11 as Figure 3 is a planview of one of the spring shown in Figure 2. It will be noted that theplates interposed between the head of the asopenings 17 of the springplates 16 are elon- 5 sembly bolt and the adjacent shackle plate gatedlongitudinally of the latter as at 18 of the device shown in Figures 1and 2. to prevent breaking of said spring plates Referring more indetail to the drawing, when compressed toward a straight condi- 5indicates the end of one side rail of a vehition.

cle chassis frame, and 6 indicates the adja- A roller bearing isarranged between each 30 cent end of the vehicle spring, respectivelyreduced portion 10 of each shaft 9 and the provided with bearings 7 and8. adjacent cup-shaped portion 12 of the'asso- Fitted and secured in thebearings 7 and ciated shackle plate ll, the rollers 19 of said 8 areshafts or spindles 9, each of which has bearings being carried bysuitable cages and its ends reduced as at 10. The larger inter arrangedbetween inner and outer races 20 35 mediate portions of the spindles 9are slightand 21. The inner race fits over the'reduced ly longer thanthe bearings 7 and 8 to project end 10 of the associated spindle 9, andthe at opposite sides of the latter for a purpose outer race 21 fitswithin the adjacent cupwhich will presently become apparent. shapedportion 12 of the associated shackle Shackle plates 11 are arranged atopposite plate 11. It will be seen that the rollers are 40 sides of thebearings 7 and 8, and each shackle tapered and arranged with theirlarger ends plate has at each end a cup-shaped portion innermost so thatwhen the shackle plates are 12 which fits over the reduced end 10 of thedrawn together the surfaces of the rollers and adjacent spindle 9. Theseshackle plates are races are maintained engaged to prevent ratheld inplace by means of a bolt 13 which tling. Should these surfaces wearslightly, 45 passes through the two shackle plates at their the samewill be automatically compensated centers or intermediate the bearings 7and 8. for by movement of the plates ll toward each One shackle plate 11has an angular openother under the influence of the spring plates ing toreceive the correspondingly shaped in- 16. ner end portion 14; of thestem of the bolt A suitable Washer 22 is provided to close 50 13,whereby the latter is prevented from turnthe inner side of eachcup-shaped portion 12 III so as to retain lubricant within the latter,said washer 22'being fitted on the adjacent reduced end 10 of thespindle 9 and arranged between the inner end of the adjacent inner race20 and the annular shoulder formed by reducing the adjacent end of thespindle 9.

Each spindle or shaft 9 is provided with an axialbore 23 whichopensithrough the ends of said spindle or shaft and communicates withthe cup-shaped portions 12 of the shackle plates, 11 which .fit -;over:the reduced ends of said spindle or shaft. The cup-shaped portions 12of one shackle plate 11 are pro- Vided with central openings in whichare threaded the stems of conventional lubricat- ,ing connections ornipples 24 adapted to cooperate with the nozzle of .a grease gun .or thelike. In this way, .lubricant may be forcibly fed into the cup-shapedportions of one shackle plate .to lubricate the roller bearings thereinand through the .aXial .bores of the spindles orshaftsB .into theicup-shaped portions of the .oppositeshackle ;plate for lubricating theroller bearings within the cups'haped portions of the latter shackleplate. As the nipples or connections 24 are .alined with the relativelylargeaxial bores 23 of the spindles .or shafts .9, flow of the lubricantthrough thespindles or shafts9 is facilitated for eificientlylubricating the bearings within the cup-shaped ,portions .of the.shackle plate 11 which is not provided with thelubricating-connections.or nipples. 'l hisavoids ineflicient lubrication.such as is had in previous constructions wherein grease cups or thelike communicate with radial bores in the spindles :or shafts extendingoutwardly from the axial .bore thereof.

From theabove description, it will be ,apparent thatathe deviceissimple,-duralble, and cap able of being conveniently and efiicientlylubricated.

What I claim as new is:

A device .of the character described comprising in combination with a:vehicle trame and spring having .end bearings, of shafts fixed in saidend bearings and havingreduced ends, shackle plates attheends of saidbearings having cup-shaped end portions arranged over the reduced endsof the shafts, said cup-shapedend portions having internal shouldersspaced from :the bottoms thereof, roller bearings between the reducedends of the sh aiiits and the cup-shaped .portions of the shackleplates, [each bearing comprising an inner tapered race fitted :on :thereduced portion of the adjacent shaft and an outer tapered race tightly.fitted .within (and against the internal shoulder of the :adjacentcupshaped portion .of the associated shackle plate, .a .washer closing.the inner .side .of .each cupshaped portion and fitted on the adjacentreduced end portion of the shaft between the :inner bearing race anditheshoulder provided by reducing the acent end of the shaft, anassembly bolt passing through the intermediate portions of andconnecting the shackle plates and having an angular stem portion, and anelongated outwardly curved spring plate carried by said assembly boltand interposed between the outer side of one shackle ,plate and the headof said assembly bolt to yieldingly draw the shackle plates together andthereby automatically and uniform'ly adjust the roller bearings tocompensatefor wear,said spring :plate and one of the shackle plateshaving an angular opening to engage-the angular stem portion of theassembly bolt to prevent relative turning thereof,the opening of thespring plate being elongated longitudinally of (the latter to preventbreaking of .said spring plate when compressed toward .a straightcondition.

,In testimony whereof I aflix mysignature RUDOLPH XSCHIAVUL'LI.

